Convertible arrays of pleated sheet material



Dec. 2, 1969 3,481,463

CONVERTIBLE ARRAYS 0F PLEATED SHEET MATERIAL M. PAVLOW l N MN NW NW A wmm s m h H. M

m w w m w m Dec. 2, 1969 M. PAVLOW 3,481,463

CONVERTIBLE ARRAYS 0F PLEATED SHEET MATERIAL Filed May 28, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY CONVERTIBLE ARRAYS OF PLEATED snnm' MATERIAL Filed May 28, 1968 M. PAVLOW Dec. 2, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT OR ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1969 M. PAVLOW 3,481,463

CONVERTIBLE ARRAYS 0F PLEATED SHEET MATERIAL Filed May 28. 1968 INVENTOR Mule/c5 @WMW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,481,463 CONVERTIBLE ARRAYS 0F PLEATED SHEET MATERIAL Maurice Pavlow, 1113 NE. 109th St., North Miami, Fla. 33161 Filed May 28, 1968, Ser. No. 732,613 Int. Cl. B65d 83/00, 85/00 US. Cl. 206-82 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An alternately distensible and contractable ornamental array device of sheet material, such as textile fabrics, comprised of a plurality of juxtaposed and interconnected units bearing a predetermined esthetic relation to each other, in respect to color, texture, pattern, etc., each of which is formed in a plurality of parallel folds arranged in zigzag relation, resembling a fan fold, which upon selective restraint and distention of the folds along different portions along the length thereof, make possible innumerable striking array patterns which are singularly effective as display samples for draperies or decorative accent items for furniture and walls, while possessing the capability of folding in a compact state for convenient transport or storage.

It is the object of the present invention to provide array devices of plicable materials which are alternately distensible and contractable 'for the purpose of creating ornamental forms and shapes having many diverse uses in different arts and industries. These arrays possess the capability of variable manipulation and arrangement to form many diverse artistic dramatic ornamental effects.

It is a further object of the invention to shape multiple units of sheet material such as textiles, which may vary esthetically in respect to color, texture, pattern, finish, etc., to attain variable ornamental arrays which may be used for many different purposes such as table ornaments, wall plaques, throw-pieces for settees and beds, having as well a capability of wide variation in size for these different purposes.

The invention is particularly advantageous as a display of fabric samples which may be used for draperies. In this field of application it presents many marked advantages over conventional displays of fabrics, many of which assume the form of fabric samples bound in book form. The arrays of the instant invention, because of their pleated characteristics, render it easy to visualize the fabric samples as drapes. Furthermore, the fabric which is incorporated in the arrays is used with maximum efficiency, since all of the sample fabrics may be viewed in their entirety for comparison, or, if desired, limited portions thereof may be displayed to the exclusion of intermediate samples. Samples may be added easily to the array device, and some may be removed upon the depletion of specific bolts of fabric. The invention renders unnecessary the need for remembering any previously viewed fabrics as is the case when samples are bound in books. In all cases, the contractable capability of the arrays complementing their ready distensibility, renders devices in accordance with the invention an ideal way of displaying fabrics for the effective merchandising thereof.

The invention contemplates the assembly of a plurality of swatch samples arranged in units of multiple folds. The juxtaposition of the units in a graded series, which may vary esthetically in respect to different designs, the same designs but different colors, or different designs and different colors, and the selective joining of the panels or pleats of each unit at different points thereof, as well as the variable connection of different portions of each unit 3,481,463 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 to the adjacent ones, and the provision of selective connector restraints for the different panels, make possible a virtually limitless number of display effects which may be attained in the creation of both artistic and commercial appeal for the materials being sampled.

The arrays permit cutting of portions thereof without destruction of the array, and after many such excisions are made, a new swatch sample may be easily substituted for the multilated one.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is atop view of one of the ornamental array devices in accordance with the invention in its contractable position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the compact package shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right end view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the array device shown in FIG. 1 following the initial opening of the wrapper therefor preparatory to its spreading into a full array device;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the array device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in its fully opened position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5 showing the relationship of three of the component units of the array illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view along line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view along line 99 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ornamental backing reenforcement in finally pleated shape for a rectangular swatch sample of similar shape;

FIG. 11 is a top view of another embodiment of an ornamental array device formed from swatch samples of fabric, the pleated panels of which are arranged differently from those shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of still another array device, resembling a moon-glow formed from swatch samples of rectangular outline which are assembled in a different manner than that shown in FIGS. 5 and 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a variant form of array device shown in FIG. 12, resembling a sampan;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of still another form of array device resembling a tulip;

FIG. 15 is a partial plan view of another array device resembling another astronomical figure such as a nova; and

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a group of interconnected pleated samples in the form of a running array composed of a plurality of diamond-shaped units.

In the drawings are illustrated several forms of arrays which are derived from a plurality of swatch samples which may be fabricated economically from rolls or bolts of sheet material and particularly textiles, for the purpose of forming effective display and sampling units for the merchandising of draperies, furniture coverings, wall coverings, etc., or which may be used for the fabrication of independent ornamental devices which may be used as accent pieces in the field of interior decorating.

The units may be fabricated by hand, although they lend themselves to mass manufacture with the aid of fabric pleating machines, tandem automatic stapling equipment, machines for applying paper backings or other reenforcements, rapid hole punches, high speed cutters, sorters, etc.

While the arrays illustrated in the drawings are formed 3 from sample swatches of small rectangles, which for example, may be 7 /2" in width and 11 /2 in length, these swatch cuts may be of any shape, such as rounds, diamonds, hexagons or of other polygonal shape.

The sheet material, such as textiles, may be reenforced on the back surface by backing tapes, paper edging, buckram, sizing or other reenforcing material. In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the reenforcements assume the form of a paper edging which is illustrated in FIG. 10, which originally is of a dimension corresponding to the swatch sample, and which is pleated correspondingly to the latter, at top and bottom folds 14 and 15, respectively, to form multiple panels coincident with the pleated panels of the swatch.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each one of the twelve units 1 of the sunburst array A shown in FIG. 5 is formed of a rectangular swatch, on the back of which is glued the reenforcing rectangle B formed of paper, following which the swatch with its reenforcement is subjected to multiple top and bottom foldings 4 and 5, respectively, to form fabric end panels 3 and 3' with a plurality of intermediate panels 2. The end panels 13 and 13' of the reenforcement underlie the fabric end panels 3 and 3, respectively, and, even reenforce part of the intermediate panels adjacent thereto.

In addition, the reenforcing panels 12 at one end of the reenforcement which are coplanar with the reenforcing panels 12 at the opposite end of the reenforcing frame serve to impart structural integrity to the top and bottom of each of the sample unit 1 while leaving the central portion of the sample unit free for the pleats to assume natural shapes upon distention of the array, as a result of the central opening 16 in the paper reenforcing member B (FIG. It is readily apparent that a border edging of sizing applied to the back surface of the swatch sample may function, as well, as a reenforcement for the margins thereof.

The intermediate panels 12 at one end of the reenforcing member B, which may be considered the top end of the unit, may be of longer length than the corresponding panels 12 at the opposite end of the reenforcing member, which may be considered the bottom end of the unit. The variable manipulation of the panels of each unit, the joining thereof, and the extent of attachment of the end panels of adjacent units, which may be supplemented by different modes of interconnecting the adjacent units at the ends remote from said joining means, make possible the obtention of the different arrays shown in the drawings as well as many other different designs.

To attain the specific sunburst array shown in FIG. 5, the several panels of each unit, which in the illustrated embodiments are twelve in number, are joined at the top end 20 by means of a staple 30 (FIGS. 6 and 9). These panels may as well be joined by gluing, stitching, or in any other way. The folds at the bottom end 22, which are reenforced by pleated folds 12 are pierced with a plurality of concentric openings 17 through which is adapted to be threaded a connecting ring 25, which may be opened and closed for this purpose, by hinge 26, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the bottom ends 22 of the units are left free to travel on the confining frame formed by ring 25.

Furthermore, in order to attain the array effect shown in FIG. 5, the outermost or end panels of each unit are afiixed to the juxtaposed outermost panel of the next adjacent units for the major part 23 of the length remote from the joined or stapled ends 20, and if this junction extends for the major part of the length of each panel, for example, 60%,, which may be effected by means of staples 31 (FIGS. 7 and 8), and if the size of the ring 25 is such that approximately twelve units may be threaded thereon through the holes 17, an array device as shown in FIG. 5 is attai d. The extent of he tre p ions 24 of th d panels adjacent to the joined ends 20 contribute to the attainment of this effect.

The array in FIG. 5 appears to be continuous by virtue of the provision of a pair of complementary fasteners such as snap fasteners 37 and 38 which are affixed to the outermost panels of the units of the array which are threaded onto the ring 25.

The clean and compact packaging of the array is made possible by incorporating a wrapper 35 of plastic sheet material around it adjacent to the connector ring 25 by riveting the upstanding edge 36 of this wrap-per onto the outermost panel 3 which carries the male snap fastener 38, with the aid of rivets 39, wherefrom the sheet of transparent plastic underlies the array in its expanded form until such time as it is desired to contract it for storage or transport, whereupon the sheet of plastic 35 is flexed around the bottom end of the array to bring the overlying sheet 35, with another female snap fastener 38 therein, into cooperation with the male snap fastener 38, as is obvious from the view shown in FIG. 4. Any other types of fasteners may be used, such as Velcro tapes. Labels bearing desired information may be applied to the wrappers or to the backing surfaces of the reenforcement.

If desired, an elastic band R, which may be stapled at 9 to one of the outermost panels, may be used to confine the top end of the array device in its compacted position (FIG. 1), and which in its inoperative position, indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1, may be disposed at the bottom of the array.

Different array device's may be attained by varying the binding points or points of junction of the panels of each unit, by modifying the extent and location of the attachment of the outermost panels of the adjacent units, and by controlling the character and location of the connector for the units, remote from the junction points of the panels thereof. Thus, FIG. 11 shows an entirely different form of array device from that shown in FIG. 5 which is exe'cuted with very little modification of the sample swatches employed to attain the sunburst effect in FIG. 5. The units 41 are fabricated in the same manner as those described above for the obtention of the array shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the junctions for the panels of each unit are provided at the upper end 40 corresponding to ends 20 in FIG. 6. However, instead of providing openings 17 in the bottom ends of the units for stringing upon a confining frame or ring, these ends are left free and upon spreading the bottom of the array transversely to the axes of the panels, a running house array of the type shown in FIG. 11 is attained. This type of array especially renders easy the contracting of any one unit to substantially eliminate its visibility, when a consideration thereof is sought to be excluded in the course of determining complementary color or pattern effects.

The array of FIG. 12 is produced from a plurality of sample units 51 of like number as that shown in FIG. 5 which are threaded on a ring except for the fact that the panels of each unit at the top end 50 are not joined by any staple or stitching, while the juxtaposed outermost panels of each unit are attached to those of the next adjacent units along substantially their entire length by staples, adhesive, or other fastening means. The opposite ends 52 are pierced with openings and are threaded on to an openable ring 55 as in the arrangement shown in FIG. 5. Thereby an entirely different array effect is attained, which may be designated as a moon-glow.

Upon threading a larger number of units 51' onto the ring 55, and by raising the latter from a horizontal plane, the sampan effect shown in FIG. 13 may be attained.

FIG. 14 illustrates a tulip effect which is attainable by a plurality of swatch units 61 each of which is formed of a smaller number of panels, such as six, than those of the units shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. The top ends of the units are tied at 60 while the bottom ends are free and are threaded in limited number onto the ring 65.

A variation of the t l p effect m y be h y t ducing the areas of attachment between adjacent units so that these are virtually separate, eventhough constrained by the binding ring 65. Thereby a Starfish effect can be attained.

The nova effect shown in FIG. 15 illustrates a slight variation of that shown in FIG. 5 by .arranging the component units in more tightly compacted form onto its retaining ring 75 and by increasing the areas of attachment adjacent to the connecting ring 75. As is apparent, the unattached portions 74 in this array are of shorter length than the corresponding portions 24 in FIG. 5. This arrangement can be changed to a sunrise effect by using only one-half of the array, as illustrated in FIG. 15, but by turning the array 90 to dispose the diametral line 76 horizontally and by rigidifying the outermost panels along this horizontal diametral line in any desired way. The arrays may be varied by varying the size and number of the units and the sizes of the connector rings on which they are mounted.

The running array shown in FIG. 16 is attained by a plurality of sample units 81, each of which may be reenforced along its marginal boundaries on its back face as described above. Junctions between the panels of each unit are formed at both the top ends 80 and bottom ends 82. The outermost panels of the juxtaposed units are connected at one point 83 only, and a runner member 85 is threaded through the intermediate panels as well as the outermost panels in proximity to the points of attachment 83. The runner cord 85 may be anchored at one end 86 to permit the intermediate portions of the units to be spread along the runner member 85 to effect a spreading thereof, while making it possible to collapse the assembly in the manner of an accordion when the array is sought to be contracted for packaging or transport.

The design of the array shown in FIG. 16 may be modified by extending two runner cords through the series of units, equidistantly spaced from the opposite joined ends, resulting in a series of hexagonal figures. Other running spreads may be attained by suitable modifications of the units and the runner cords.

The number of panels in each pleated unit may be varied to a number less than or more than eight as shown. Furthermore, the arrays may be built up of light or dissimilar units. Also, the connecting means for the units may be devices other than circular rings and they may be formed of metal or plastic and may be of square, rectangular or polygonal outline. The travel elements may be in the form other than cords, for example, ribbons, scissor extenders, telescopic tubular members, etc.

While I have described my invention as embodied in specific forms and as operating in specific manners for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. An alternately expansible and contractable ornamental array device of sheet material comprising:

(a) a plurality of esthetically related units of sheet material adapted to be connected in an integrated assembly,

(b) each unit composed of a plurality of zigzag folds forming a plurality of parallel pleated panels including an end panel at each lateral edge of the unit with a plurality of intermediate panels therebetween,

(c) means attaching a plurality of units to each other in a predetermined esthetic sequence by the selective attachment of predetermined portions of one endpanel of one unit to the juxtaposed end-panel of the next adjacent unit, in dependence of the character of the ornamental array sought to be attained,

(d) and means joining said panels of each unit adjacent to at least one end thereof to constrain the movement of said panels from their normally disposed parallel relationship upon the expansion of said array to control the pattern thereof.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, including connecting means for the panels of said units at least at one portion thereof remote from said joining means, to control the distention of said panels.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of units are of textile sheet material provided with a backing reenforcement at least along the lateral edges thereof, the lateral edges of two juxtaposed panels being aflixed to each other along more than half of their length remote from said joining means at one end of said panels, and said connecting means 'being disposed at the ends of said panels remote from said joining means.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said connecting means comprises a closed geometric frame adapted to be threaded through a plurality of openings at the lastmentioned ends of said panels.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said closed geometric frame is a ring of circular configuration to form a simulation of a sunburst in the expanded condition of the array device.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said joining means is provided at the opposite end of said panels, and means for distending the panels between the joined ends thereof to control the pattern of the resulting array.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said distending means is disposed substantially equidistantly from said opposite ends of juncture to form a pattern ranging from a diamond-shape to a rectangle depending upon the degree of distention.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lastmentioned joining means is provided at only one end of the panels of each unit, and the lateral edges of the juxtaposed panels of each pair of adjacent units are affixed to each other for approximately half of their length remote from said joining means.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a circular ring for confining the joined ends of the panels of said units while the opposite ends are spread circumferentially, the lateral edges of the juxtaposed panels of each pair of adjacent units being attached to each other along the major length thereof from said last-mentioned ends to points adjacent the joined ends of said panels.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 including a backing reenforcement along the marginal edges of said units, as well as along the circumferential edges thereof, to afford support for the array either in a fully flattened condition or in a conical formation.

11. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of units are of textile sheet material provided with a backing reenforcement at least along the lateral marginal edges thereof.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said units of textile material are joined together successively in gradation of texture, pattern, finish and/or color.

13. A device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the fanfolded units are each formed from a swatch of textile material of rectangular outline.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein the lateral edges of the swatch forming each panel is of a longer dimension than that forming the top and bottom of the panels.

15. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of units are each formed from a swatch of textile material of rectangular outline provided with a backing reenforcement along the marginal edges thereof, the lateral edges of said swatch being longer than the top and bottom edges thereof, and the backing reenforcements along the top and bottom edges having the folds of the parallel pleated panels formed therein.

16. A device as set forth in claim 15 including connecting means for the panels of said units at least at one portion thereof remote from said joining means, to control the distention of said panels.

17. A device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said panels adjacent to the ends thereof remote from said joining means are distended transversely relative to the longitudinal axes of said panels.

18. A device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the lateral edges of two juxtaposed panels of adjacent units are affixed to each other along more than half of their length remote from said joining means, with said connecting means comprising an openable circular ring threaded through openings provided at the ends of said panels remote from said joining means.

19. A device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said units threaded onto said ring are of a limited number so that upon the distention of the panels, the simulation of a tulip is attained.

20. A device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said units threaded on said ring are of sufficiently large number that upon distention of the panels, the units subtend the entire circular ring, and cooperating fastening means on the exterior surfaces of the outermost panels of the units remote from said joining means to effect a detachable attachment therebetween.

21. A device as set forth in claim 20 including a confining sheet of transparent plastic material having one edge thereof affixed to the exterior surface of one of said outermost panels and adapted to surround the array device in its contracted condition, with the opposite edge of said confining sheet adapted to overlap said first-mentioned edge to provide a compact packaging wrapper for said device.

22. A device as set forth in claim 21 wherein said fastening means for said array are in the form of mating snap fasteners, part of which constitutes fastening means for said transparent wrapper.

23. A device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the lateral edges of two juxtaposed panels of adjacent units are afiixed to each other along the major portions of their length beyond the points of said joining means Whereat concentric openings are formed in said panels, with said connecting means comprising an openable circular ring threaded through said openings to constrain the innermost ends of said units as said outermost portions thereof are distended circumferentially.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,960 3/1916 Kroeger 20682 1,883,108 10/1932 Thompson.

2,996,179 8/1961 Osterman.

3,174,894 3/1965 Paige 16114 I WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

